Around NSA Souda Bay

Reenlistments

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Damian Villa receives his Certificate of Reenlistment from Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gary Groesbeck, security officer, during his reenlistment ceremony Nov. 4 at the Harbor Security Office. Villa, a native of Waterford, Calif., has been in the Navy for 4years and at NSA Souda Bay for 10 months. He reenlisted for three more years. Villa is a coxswain assigned to the Harbor Security Unit, performing surveillance at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility. He said that he enjoys training fellow Harbor Security Unit Sailors to become coxswains. “I also love being near the water, it is the bestplace to be,” he said.

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Chief Air Traffic Controller Cameron Collier receives his Certificate of Reenlistment from Lt. Michael Spoke, command chaplain, during his Nov.10 reenlistment at the Chapel. Collier, a native of Fort Worth, Texas,has been in the Navy for 18 years and 3 months and at NSA Souda Bay for18 months. He reenlisted for 4 more years. Collier is the air traffic control facility officer for Air Operations, where he ensures all functions of air traffic control are completed correctly. He makes sure all the flight plans and prior permission requests, forms that are required for all U.S. aircraft requesting parking and/or transient services, are filed for all aircraft so they can transit efficiently and safely. Collier enjoys the variety of tasks within his job and said,“At Souda Bay you never know what you are going to get. Every day bringsa different challenge. We also get to work as a team to complete different missions that we are tasked. In the end we all get together to make sure the missions are always executed successfully and safely.”

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Jossette Salinas received her Plaque of Reenlistment from Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gary Groesbeck, security officer, during her Nov. 13 reenlistment ceremony at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility. Salinas, a native of Dallas, has been in the Navy for 3years and at NSA Souda Bay for 4 months. She reenlisted for 3 more years. Salinas ensures U.S. assets are secure at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility by manning NSA Souda Bay's checkpoints at the pier. Salinas enjoys keeping Team Souda safe and said, “It feels good to be able to provide protection for the base.”

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Davon Brown receives his Plaque of Reenlistment from Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gary Groesbeck, security officer, during his Nov. 17 reenlistment. Brown, a native of Gary, Ind., has been in theNavy 4 years and 6 months and at NSA Souda Bay for 11 months. He reenlisted for 2 more years. Brown, a member of the Security Department,makes sure the base is protected every day by checking identification cards at the front gate and performing roving patrols around NSA SoudaBay. Brown said he enjoys the responsibility of his job and the authority of ensuring everyone follows the rules. “We are all military so we are held to a higher standard. So, we keep a fair standard across the board and correct military members no matter what their rank is.”

Photo by Kostas Fantaousakis, Public Affairs

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Damion Childers recites the Oath of Reenlistment given by Lt. Michael Spoke, command chaplain, during his Nov. 19 reenlistment at the Chapel. Childers, a native of Tuscaloosa,Ala., has been in the Navy 8 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 11 months.He reenlisted for 4 more years. Childers, a member of the Security Department, keeps order and discipline on the base, conducts foot patrols and checks identification cards at the front gate. Childers said he enjoys meeting new people. “I think of myself as a people person. I like meeting new people at the gate or when I am on foot patrol. I enjoy talking to them and getting to know them.”

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Chais Nelson recites his Oath of Reenlistment given by Lt. Michael Spoke, command chaplain, during his reenlistment ceremony Nov. 23 in front of Bldg. 1. Nelson, a native of Blackfoot, Idaho, has been in the Navy for 4 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 1 year. He reenlisted for 6 more years. Nelson is a member of the Air Operations Department and helps file flight plans and coordinates with the aircrew or flight planners for incoming and outgoing aircraft so they can arrive and depart safety from NSA Souda Bay. Nelson said his favorite thing about his job is getting the opportunity to work with different kinds of people. “I like the diversity between working with the Greek representatives and working with a lot of other departments around the airfield.”

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Small Craft Insignia Pinning Ceremony

Capt. Rafael C. Facundo pinned Master-at-Arms 1st Class Sean Hiller and Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Bailey Pugh in a Small Craft Insignia pinning ceremony Nov. 30 in Bldg. 1.

Sailors must have achieved a high level of excellence and proficiency in small boat operations to receive the insignia. The Small Craft Insignia, commonly known as the Small Craft Pin signifies that the wearer is fully competent in the areas of navigation, communication, engineering, weapons and tactical operations.

Photos by Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Benjamin Ames

USS Hershel Williams Arrives at Marathi

The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) arrives at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility Nov. 16. Williams made a routine logistics stop while on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility.

Photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Community Outreach

Following a community outreach event on Oct. 29, the Greek Orthodox church dedicated to the Annunciation of Mary in Sternes, Akrotiri, posted this message on their official Facebook page thanking volunteers for the delivery of gift donations:

“We would like to thank the NSA Souda Bay command, the officers and service members, the families, the Public Affairs Office and Mr. Nikos Fragos who was the liaison, for the delivery of clothing donations to our church. These were delivered this morning, to share with our fellow citizens in need. May God bless you all.”

Volunteers from NSA Souda Bay's Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions delivered food and clothing donations to the Mouzouras Cultural Association on Nov. 25. Donations were collected in Thanksgiving-themed baskets during the month of November and the event was coordinated by CSADD and NSA Souda Bay's Chapel.

Photo by Kostas Fantaousakis, Public Affairs

National American Indian Heritage Month

Members of NSA Souda Bay's Command Multicultural Association pose for a photo as they cut the cake before a special meal in honor of National American Indian Heritage Month at the Galley on Nov. 17. Pictured from left to right: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Luis Reynosoluna, committee member; Master-at-Arms 1st Class Casey Voelker, president; and Yeoman 1st Class Brande McLane, vice president.

Photos by Kostas Fantaousakis, Public Affairs

Holiday Books & Movies

Morale, Welfare and Recreation's Library is offering a selection of holiday books and movies to get Team Souda into the holiday spirit. The Library provides a wide variety of books, DVDs, magazines and newspapers, as well as computer access, free Internet, fax and copying services.

For more information, visit them in Building 62, next to the Liberty Center, or by calling 266-1491 or 28210-21491.

Photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs